The MP for Rotherham announced her resignation from the shadow cabinet on Wednesday afternoon following an article she penned for The Sun newspaper titled “Britain has a problem with British Pakistani men raping and exploiting white girls.”

Champion this week distanced herself from the column, saying the piece had been heavily altered and should “not have gone out in my [her] name.”

The piece, published last Thursday, opened with the line: “Britain has a problem with British Pakistani men raping and exploiting white girls.”

It continued: “For too long we have ignored the race of these abusers and, worse, tried to cover it up.

“However, as the latest case in Newcastle proves, we must accept that for gang-related child sexual exploitation, the convictions have largely been against British Pakistani men.”

In a statement, Champion said: “I apologise for the offence caused by the extremely poor choice of words in The Sun article on Friday.

“I am concerned that my continued position in the Shadow Cabinet would distract from the crucial issues around child protection which I have campaigned on my entire political career. It is therefore with regret that I tender my resignation as Shadow Secretary of State for Women and Equalities.”